Port Alberni to Create Arts, Culture and Heritage Plan

The City of Port Alberni is considering a plan which will identify priorities in the arts sector, support development of partnerships and provide community-driven opportunities to develop pride of place and civic identity, according to a report provided to City Council by director of community services Theresa Kingston. The consultation phase began last month.

The Alberni Valley Arts and Heritage Strategy: Community Engagement Proposal states that the City of Port Alberni "desires to work with the community and partners to determine an alternate delivery model for the museum and heritage services." A stakeholder group has held two meetings and has identified a need for a more comprehensive and integrated plan that considers the delivery of services in the area of arts, culture and heritage. The report states that delivery of these services is currently fragmented, with a number of organizations providing services and programs, and an integrated approach is being recommended. 

Key stakeholder interviews will be conducted through October to gather both quantitative and qualitative data, followed by a report-back in November. Proposed methods of reflection include a large group discussion involving a presentation of findings, a discussion of examples of other communities with strong models, and a series of World Café sessions.

Outcomes and a draft structure of the plan may be shared in January for further discussion.

To read the details of the proposal, see page 36 here.